A Gastonia man told police that he took sleep medication before firing a shotgun in the house, scaring a woman and her children.

Gary Willard Kimsey was charged with disarming a weapon in an occupied dwelling.

The incident happened Wednesday at Kimsey’s Westway Drive home, according to the arrest warrant.

Kimsey fired the weapon into the wall of the master bedroom, the warrant states. The woman, her son and daughter ran to the basement and hid.

Kimsey, 64, was taken to Gaston County Jail and assigned a $10,000 secured bond.

According to a neighbor, the woman and her children live with Kimsey at the house off of Union Road.
Michael Bolch said he’s lived across from Kimsey for four years and has never had a problem with him.

Bolch described Kimsey as a friendly, decent guy.

Bolch admitted that he was concerned when police cars pulled into Kimsey’s yard. Bolch said he saw officers remove a few guns from the home.

Kimsey was scheduled for a first appearance in court Thursday afternoon.

He has no prior criminal record with the N.C. Department of Correction, according to the website.

You can reach reporter Diane Turbyfill at 704-869-1817 and twitter.com/GazetteDiane.